Old Dominion: 2017 CMA Awards Win Would ‘Solidify Their Place’ in Country Music

Old Dominion are nominated for two CMA Awards during the 2017 ceremony: New Artist of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year. Each is a category in which the band has been nominated for the past two years. But now, with their sophomore album, Happy Endings, out and four No. 1 singles to their credit, the guys think 2017 might finally be the year they take home one of the coveted trophies.

"It’s kind of scary to think about. But it would definitely be a moment that would feel like it would kind of solidify our place," Old Dominion's Matthew Ramsey recently shared with The Boot and other reporters. "I think we’re always a little bit [worried that our career might] end. We want to keep going, so [we do] everything that we can do to make sure we can keep doing this, because we absolutely love this, and I think that would really go a long way."

Happy Endings debuted at the top of the Country Albums chart when it was released in August, providing further validation that Old Dominion's hard work was paying off.

"It was amazing that it worked one time with the first album, but this had a lot of expectations I feel like," band member Trevor Rosen explains. "You want to put out something that’s as good as the first one. So when it came out and got the response it did, it was a little bit relieving and a little bit validating."

Old Dominion, which also includes Brad Tursi, Geoff Sprung and Whit Sellers, will reunite with their former tour boss, Kenny Chesney, in 2018, for Chesney's Trip Around the Sun Tour. With so many opportunities to open for Chesney -- including during his 2015 The Big Revival Tour, his Spread the Love Tour in 2016 and at his only stadium show of 2017 -- getting to return to work with his band and crew feels a lot more like play time than work. But that tour is only part of a busy next 12 months, which will keep Old Dominion on the road far more than they will be at home.

"That’s always like a big family reunion. It’s always so much fun out there with them," says Ramsey of working with Chesney. "And then, we’re getting ready to go to Europe. Right after the CMA Awards, we get to go to Europe with Thomas Rhett, so that will be fun, to see what the fans are like over there. And then we get a headlining world tour in the fall. Next year’s going to be a big year, too."

A list of all of Old Dominion's upcoming shows is available on their website. The 2017 CMA Awards are scheduled to air on ABC on Nov. 8, at 8PM ET; the ceremony will take place live at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will host the ceremony for the 10th year in a row.